MMA fans have reacted angrily to an apparent UFC 300 snub for a beloved legend of the sport.
Mixed martial arts‘ top promotion is inching ever closer to its 300th pay-per-view event, which is expected to take place in April.
UFCUFC 300 is set to take place in April[/caption]
GettyDana White and his matchmakers are currently devising fights for the historic card[/caption]
Fight fans around the world are wondering who will top the bill of the extravaganza, which was seemingly set to be headlined by Conor McGregor.
Diehards, however, are more interested in veteran lightweight Jim Miller – who has the most wins in UFC history – having a spot on the historic card.
Miller, 40, is the only active fighter on the roster to have competed at both UFC 100 in July 2009 and UFC 200 in July 2016.
An appearance on the April card seemed to be an inevitability – until he was booked to face Gabriel Benitez at UFC Vegas 84 on January 13.
Long-time fans of the sport and Miller, needless to say, were disappointed with the booking of his latest fight.
One wrote on X: “Jim Miller must be on the card and will make history as the only fighter on UFC 100, 200 and 300.
Another said: “We really want to see Jim Miller at UFC 300 just as much as we want to see Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, etc.”
And another said: “NOOOOO Jim Miller deserves a UFC 300 spot.”
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GETTYFan favourite and future Hall-of-Famer Jim Miller is at risk of missing out on the card[/caption]
UFCJim Miller has the most wins in UFC history with 25 triumphs to his name[/caption]
One remarked: “If Jim Miller isn’t on UFC 300 my disappointment with UFC matchmaking will be immeasurable.”
Another chimed in: “I swear on everything that is holy, if Jim Miller isn’t on the main card of UFC 300, we riot.”
One fan of the American added: “Jim Miller fights at UFC 300 or we riot.”
Another said: “WHY THE F**K ARE WE NOT GETTING JIM MILLER FOR UFC 300 HELLO ????????”
Despite fans’ disappointment, Miller, win or lose, could still fight at UFC 300 provided he doesn’t receive a lengthy medical suspension or sustain a serious injury.
One fan said of the prospect of a quick Miller turnaround: “Make sure Jim Miller stays healthy for UFC 300!”
Another said: “Hope this means Miller can still make UFC 300 in April.
“Seems a bit risky.”
UFCJim Miller knocked out Jesse Butler in brutal fashion in June[/caption]
And another said: “Jim Miller should not be fighting that close to UFC 300. He needs to be on 300 IDC.”
Miller returned to the win column in his 42nd octagon outing in June with a one-punch KO of Jesse Butler, which had UFC bigwig Dana White singing his praises.
The promotion’s president and newly-minted CEO said: “I don’t know what you’d call him in the history of the UFC – durable.
“And look at him physically at his age too.
“These guys are USADA tested and you look at the physical shape he’s stayed in this long in his career without any performance-enhancing drugs and still coming in here against younger guys and getting finishes.
“Tonight was a beautiful; I think he hit him with a left hook as you can possibly land.
“If he’s not on ESPN’s top ten tonight then there’s something wrong.”
GettyUFC president and CEO Dana White recently sung Jim Miller’s praises[/caption]